Reamer locking device



' Feb. 9, 1943. E. D. KENNEDY REAMER LOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1941 Patented Feb. 9, 194-3 are st REAMER LOCKING DEVICE Application September 22, 1941, Serial No. 411,818

T OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to reamers for use in drilling wells and has for its general object to provide an improved mounting for reamer cutters on the reamer bodies.

It is highly desirable in connection with reamers that the cutters be mounted on the reamer bodies in such a manner that the cutters may be readily removed and replaced in the field.

It is a further object of this invention, therefore, to proVide a means for mounting reamer cutters on the reamer bodies which means may be assembled without the use of special tools or equipment and which means will be substantially foolproof in addition to providing a substantially trouble free mounting for the reamer cutters such that the reamers can not become displaced from the body in use, and such that the reamer cutter mountings will not become damaged through strain or wear so that the cutters may be allowed to become loose from the body.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein is set forth by way of example and illustration one embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fi 1 shows a side elevation of a reamer constructed in accordance with this invention, the upper and lower end portions of the body being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 and showing the details of construction of cutter mounting.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary side elevation on the same scale as Fig. 2 illustrating the cutter mounting arrangement.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the cutter mounting arrangement on an enlarged scale.

In the drawing the body I of the reamer is provided with circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending recesses 2, each adapted to receive a reamer cutter 3. These reamer cutters 3 are mounted on axles or shafts 4, the ends of which extend into auxiliary recesses 5 which communicate respectively with the opposite ends of the major recesses 2. The shafts 4 are so supported that the outer portion of each cutter 3 will project outwardly beyond the regular circular contour of the reamer body.

The auxiliary recesses 5 are provided with overhanging opposite edges 6 and are adapted to receive the blocks 1 which have laterally extending tongues 8 on their opposite edges adapted to r-ide beneath the overhanging edges 6 of the recesses so as to retain the blocks 1 against radial movement from their recesses.

Each of the auxiliary recesses is also provided with a recessed bottom part 9 adjacent the major recess 2, the same being adapted to receive a bearing block [0 which is in turn held against longitudinal movement by means of a dowel pin II.

Each of the shafts 4 has a flattened end portion i2 which faces outwardly with respect to the body so that the portion of circular outline may rest upon the block Iii. Each of the blocks 1 has a transverse slot therethrough which is prefer- ,ably of T-shaped cross section providing overhanging edges 13 as shown in Fig. 2. This slot is adapted to receive a wedge l3a of similar cross section having portions Hi adapted to engage beheath the overhanging edge parts l3. The bottom surface 15 of each of the wedges i3a is sloped with respect to the engaging surfaces between the parts l3 and M indicated at It, so that when the Wedge I3a is forced laterally through the slot in one of the blocks I it will form a Wedging engagement between such block and the adjacent flattened surface of the shaft 4. In order that this engagement might be perfect and prevent slippage between the shaft and the block l3a, each of the blocks [3a is provided with a sharpened ridge or tooth 11 extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to engage and bite into the flattened surface of the shaft 4 as the Wedge is driven home.

Each wedge is adapted to be held in place by means of a spring or key l8 which is inserted behind the wedge after it has been driven home.

In assembling the device just described the blocks H) are first put in place with the dowels ll holding them against slippage. The cutter 3 with the shaft t in place therein is then put into its recess 2 with the ends of the shafts extending into the auxiliary recesses 5 respectively and lying within the seats formed in the blocks l0.

Thereupon the blocks 1 are slipped into place longitudinally of the body until they overlie the blocks 10 and the slots therein are aligned with notches l9 formed in the body on opposite sides of each of the auxiliary recesses 5 to permit the insertion of the wedges I3a. The wedges I3a are then inserted from the left as seen in Fig. 1 and are driven home with a hammer or the like.

Thereupon the keys or springs [8 are inserted into place to hold the wedges against coming out.

When it is desired to disassemble the reamer cess therein and an auxiliary recess opening into each end of the major recess, said auxiliary recess having overhanging edges, and said body having a transverse slideway intersecting each of said auxiliary recesses, a roller cutter in said major recess, a supporting shaft extending through said cutter and having its ends disposed in said auxiliary recesses, a keeper block slidable in each of said auxiliary recesses and adapted to engage beneath said overhanging edges and to overlie said shaft ends, each keeper block having a slideway transversely thereof with overhanging edges said last mentioned slideway adapted to be aligned with said slideway in the body and being cut to provide an opening through the block to expose the shaft, and a wedge member having parts adapted to engage beneath said overhanging edges of the slideway and a surface inclined with respect to said parts to wedge against the shaft When the wedge member is forced in one direction.

2. In a reamer, a body having a major recess therein and an auxiliary recess opening into each end of the major recess, said auxiliary recesses having overhanging edges, and said body having a transverse slideway intersecting each of said auxiliary recesses, a roller cutter in said major recess, a supporting shaft extending through said cutter and having its ends disposed in said auxiliary recesses, a keeper block slidable in each of said auxiliary recesses and adapted to engage beneath said overhanging edges and to overlie said shaft ends, each keeper block having a slideway transversely thereof with overhanging edges, said last mentioned slideway adapted to be aligned with said slideway in the body and being cut to provide an opening through the block to expose the shaft, a wedge member having parts adapted to engage beneath said overhanging edges of the slideway and a surface inclined with respect to said parts to wedge against the shaft when the wedge member is forced in one direction, and a key adapted to be inserted behind said wedge member to prevent it from being accidentally displaced.

3. In a reamer, a body having a major recess therein and an auxiliary recess opening into each end of the major recess, said auxiliary recesses having overhanging edges, and said body having a transverse slideway intersecting each of said auxiliary recesses, a roller cutter in said major recess, asupporting shaft extending through said cutter and having its ends disposed in said auxiliary recesses, a keeper block slidable in each of said auxiliary recesses and adapted to engage beneath said overhanging edges and tooverlie said shaft ends, each keeper block having a slideway transversely thereof with overhanging edges, said last mentioned slideway adapted to be aligned with said slideway in the body and being cut to provide an opening through the block to expose the shaft, and a Wedge member having parts adapted to engage beneath said overhanging edges of the slideway and asurface inclined with respect to said parts to wedge against the shaft when the wedge member is forced in-one direction, said last mentioned surface having a sharpened tooth extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to bite into the surface of the shaft as the wedge isdriven home.

EUGENE D. KENNEDY. 

